Applicator with slanted plate element

ABSTRACT

A mascara applicator comprising a core and a border consisting of fingers and flanks which are integrally connected to the core. The aim of the invention is to provide a mascara applicator that allows different application results. This is achieved in that each of the flanks consists of at least one plate element. Each plate element has two main surfaces and otherwise only narrow surfaces, and the main surfaces are characterized in that each open surface of the main surfaces is at least four times larger than the open surface of each of the narrow surfaces; the main surfaces run diagonally to the applicator longitudinal axis; and the plate elements exhibit an increased geometrical moment of inertia on the basis of the slanted position of the plate elements both in the circumferential direction as well as in a direction parallel to the applicator longitudinal axis such that the plate elements have an increased resistance against bending.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a mascara applicator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mascara applicators with a covering consisting of fingers and wings are known as such from U.S. patent 2009/0193602 A1.

The wings of this mascara applicator are configured as disk members. The main surfaces of each of the disk members are oriented so as to be oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal applicator axis. Viewed in the circumferential direction, several disk members are disposed in alignment one behind the other and thus form a disk ring whose directly adjacent disk members are in each case separated from one another by only a single finger.

Deep gaps, in which a considerable amount of mascara mass remains stored also after the mascara applicator has passed a wiper, remain free between disk members that are disposed one behind the other in a directly adjacent manner in the direction of the longitudinal applicator axis.

Though the mascara applicator exhibits, to a certain extent, a variable application behavior in the circumferential direction, this mascara applicator, however, is incapable of fulfilling the current wish of a group of very creative users, namely to offer a very variable application behavior—depending on the position into which the mascara applicator is rotated before being brought up to the curve of the eyelashes. Therefore, the known mascara applicator is incapable of fulfilling the need for a mascara applicator that offers great creative liberty during application and also allows for unusual manners of application.

Therefore, it is the object of the invention to provide a mascara applicator that permits very variable application results.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The mascara applicator according to the invention has a core and a covering of fingers preferably connected thereto integrally and wings that are integrally connected thereto. In this case, the wings each consist of at least one disk member whose main surfaces extend in a slanted manner relative to the longitudinal applicator axis. In this case, each plate member has two main surfaces and otherwise only narrow surfaces. The main surfaces are characterized in that their free surface area, in each case, is at least 4 times, better at least 6 times, greater than the free surface area of each of the narrow surfaces. Further, what is special in each of the plate members is that its two main surfaces extend in a slanted manner relative to the longitudinal applicator axis, preferably at an angle α of between 10° and 35°. Thus, the plate members forming the wing or wings here are slanted relative to the longitudinal applicator axis. Unlike the plate members in the form of disk members known in the prior art, the plate members according to the invention exhibit an increased geometrical moment of inertia both in the circumferential direction as well as in the direction parallel to the longitudinal applicator axis due to their slant, so that the plate members according to the invention have an increased capacity for resistance against both bending due to a bending moment acting around the longitudinal applicator axis as well as against bending due to a bending moment acting perpendicularly to the longitudinal applicator axis.

Therefore, when passing through the wiper, each of these plate members prevents the fingers located in its closer vicinity from being folded down severely and thus being wiped off correspondingly severely. In areas, however, in which the fingers are further distant from the plate members and in which the local supporting action of the plate members is therefore unable to exhibit any effect, the fingers are folded down considerably more severely and wiped off to a perceptibly more intensive extent.

In view of this, it is clear that a mascara applicator which can be attractively loaded with mascara mass and allows for novel application results is provided particularly when the mascara applicator is provided with a covering of fingers that is interrupted at two preferably diametrically opposite locations, for example in the 9 o'clock position and in the 3 o'clock position, by a row of wings which extend, on the whole, parallel to the longitudinal applicator axis and are disposed one behind the other. If such a mascara applicator is pulled through a wiper, and preferably through one with a wiper lip that can be elastically deformed to a more than inconsiderable extent, then the wiper is able to fold down the bristles located in the vicinity of the 9 o'clock position and in the vicinity of the 3 o'clock position only lightly and, accordingly, wipe them off lightly. In contrast, the wiper will fold down the fingers situated in the vicinity of the 12 o'clock position and in the 6 o'clock position particularly severely and therefore wipe them off particularly intensively. After passing through the wiper, the mascara applicator will therefore be loaded with mascara mass in very different degrees, viewed in the circumferential direction, which results in the desired, very variable application behavior of the mascara applicator according to the invention.

In an embodiment, the invention therefore provides that the mascara applicator has at least, and preferably only, two rows of fingers (5) that, on the whole, extend parallel to the longitudinal applicator axis and, ideally, are located diametrically opposite from each other on the core.

In this case, it is useful furthermore if the maximum thickness of a plate member perpendicular to its main surfaces is between 0.8 times the maximum finger diameter and 2.5 times the maximum finger diameter.

It was found to be particularly beneficial if the covering has at least one row of wings which, on the whole, extends in the direction parallel to the longitudinal applicator axis, which wings are placed one behind the other so as to form a zigzag pattern. The crucial advantage of such a zigzag pattern is that it provides the wings with an increased stability internally. The wings still do not behave completely rigidly, i.e. not like plates in the mathematical sense. Instead, they still have a certain lateral flexibility in the circumferential direction. This, however, is reduced by the zigzag arrangement provided as a whole, so that, using the zigzag arrangement, the bending behavior of the wings can be adapted very accurately by design to the individual requirements that are prescribed for the individual case of application.

In this case, it is particularly beneficial if each wing consists of two plate members which merge into each other along their imaginarily abutting end faces and thus form a V member. For such a V member gains stability, similar to a folded piece of paper. Therefore, the invention further provides that each wing consists of two plate members that merge into each other along their imaginary end faces and thus form a V-shaped wing.

It is particularly beneficial if the V members placed in a row parallel to the longitudinal applicator axis open alternately towards the one and towards the other circumferential direction.

Within the context of a particularly preferred embodiment, it is provided that a gap, whose extent in the direction parallel to the longitudinal applicator axis is at least ⅓, better approximately ½, of the extent that a V-shaped member has in the direction parallel to the longitudinal applicator axis, remains free between two V-shaped members placed directly adjacent within a row. Thus, the V-shaped members are prevented from forming an all-too rigid strip, and mascara mass can be pushed, under the influence of the wiper, from the one side of the V-shaped members towards the other side of the V-shaped members, and vice versa, in order to provide compensation. This is of some importance particularly when the applicator has been loaded with mascara mass in a very non-uniform manner over its circumferential direction, for example because the only half-filled mascara unit has not been stored standing up but was lying on the side, and the applicator is pulled out immediately after the mascara unit has been picked up without previously shaking the mascara unit.

It is particularly beneficial if the two main surfaces of a plate member do not extend fully parallel relative to each other but are inclined towards each other in the radially outward direction, which the invention also provides. In that case, the plate member becomes thinner and thinner in the radially outward direction. Thus, the bending behavior can be influenced, particularly in such a way that the radially outward area of a plate member behaves with greater bending elasticity than the area of a plate member located inward in the radial direction.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the tip of a V-shaped wing, viewed in the circumferential direction, is located centrally in the intermediate space between two adjacent finger rings that in each case extend circumferentially.

In this case, each of the lateral ends of a V-shaped wing, viewed in the circumferential direction, may be located centrally in the intermediate space between two finger rings adjacent to it that in each case extend circumferentially.

Within the context of a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the distance measured in the circumferential direction between two rows of fingers, which are each placed one behind the other in alignment along the longitudinal applicator axis, that accommodate between them a row of V-shaped members is equal to (i.e. completely or, more generously, substantially up to +/−10%) the distance measured in the circumferential direction between two rows of fingers, which are each placed one behind the other in alignment along the longitudinal applicator axis, that accommodate between them another, identical row of fingers.

Given such a design, the V-shaped members do not result in a troublesome interruption of the finger covering.

Preferably, the mascara applicator is in that case configured in such a way that the radial extent of the plate members substantially corresponds to the radial extent of the surrounding fingers.

In a useful embodiment, the invention finally also provides that bases are provided in the shape of strips which extend in a slanted manner relative to the longitudinal applicator axis and which integrally connect the directly adjacent plate members, which are separated from each other only by a gap, to each other across the gap.

Further advantages, optional embodiments and modes of operation become apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the Figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an overview of a mascara applicator according to the invention from the side, with a view from above onto the V-shaped members.

FIG. 2 shows an overview of the mascara applicator according to the invention from the side, which, however, was rotated by 90° about the longitudinal applicator axis compared with FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged detail from FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged detail from FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 shows a view of the mascara applicator according to the invention from the front, i.e. viewed from the free end of the mascara applicator facing away from the coupling portion.

FIG. 6 illustrates what a bristle is to be understood to be within the sense of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 offers a first overview of an exemplary embodiment of the mascara applicator 1 according to the invention.

As can be seen here rather well, the mascara applicator 1 consists of a core 2 preferably followed by a coupling portion 3. The coupling portion 3 serves for coupling the core 2 to the stem, which is not shown here, or a handling means not shown here for holding and manipulating the mascara applicator 1, or for coupling it to a closure cap.

Alternatively, the mascara applicator 1 and the stem, and possibly also the handling means, can be configured integrally; in that case, the coupling portion 3 is omitted.

As can be seen, the core 2 carries an integral covering of fingers 4 injection-molded onto it.

Preferably, the fingers 4 do not protrude from the core 2 in a chaotic manner as is known from the bristles of the so-called wire core brushes.

Instead, they protrude from the core 2 in a geometrically defined manner, preferably in the radial direction, ideally like the spokes of a wheel.

The fingers 4 are formed individually, i.e. they are not tufted or attached to the core 2 as a tuft, but protrude from the core 2 individually, in the sense that each finger 4 keeps a distance to the directly adjacent finger or fingers 4 on all sides. By being attached by injection molding, the fingers 4 are given a characteristic structure, seen through a microscope, because the polymer molecule chains are strongly aligned in the direction parallel to the longitudinal finger axis when shot into the narrow finger-forming cavities of the injection-molding tool. This has a very positive influence on the properties of the fingers and, above all, on the bend recovery capacity. Gaps in the area of the root of the fingers that are susceptible to contamination with germs, as they otherwise occur in tufting, are avoided due to the integral connection between the fingers 4 and the core 2.

In part, the fingers 4 can be configured as teeth of a comb, i.e. as elements that are inherently rigid or, compared to the bristles, as elements with more bending stiffness. Preferably, however, they are configured as bristles, at least for the main part. Ideally, all fingers 4 are bristles.

In the sense of the invention, the term “bristle” is to be understood as follows:

In this case, a bristle is understood to be a bar, which is preferably clamped only unilaterally, with a preferably (at least substantially) round or optionally also elliptical or oval cross section.

In any case, a bristle is understood to be a structure that is so flexible that its free end facing away from the core 2 is able to be displaced under a load in a reversible manner by a distance parallel to the longitudinal applicator axis L whose amount corresponds to at least 4 times, better at least 6 times, the bristle root diameter DE, see FIG. 6.

The maximum root diameter Dmax of such a bristle above the rounded portion/fillet, with which the individual bristle may transition into the core 2, is 0.6 mm at most, better 0.45 mm at most. The extent of each bristle in the direction of its longitudinal axis, which (at least substantially) extends radially to the core 2 of the mascara applicator 1, is preferably at least 3 mm, better at least 4 mm. Expediently, each of the bristles tapers in the radially outward direction, most frequently at least substantially in a continuous manner. Preferably, each bristle has the shape of a cone envelope. The provision of a cone angle of 0.25° to 2° at most, better up to 1.5° at most, in each case relative to the longitudinal bristle axis, is ideal.

Preferably, the fingers 4 are organized in such a way that they form finger rings of fingers 4 disposed one behind the other in an alignment in the circumferential direction. Preferably, the fingers 4 of finger rings placed next to each other in this case form so-called finger rows formed from fingers 4 disposed one behind the other in an alignment in the direction parallel to the longitudinal applicator axis L. The special features of the finger rings and finger rows relevant in the context of the invention will be addressed later on.

However, the covering is not formed from the above-described fingers 4 alone. Instead, wings 5 are additionally provided. The wings 5 also transition, preferably integrally, into the core 2 and are generally also produced in a joint injection molding procedure together with the core 2 and the fingers 4, preferably integrally.

For completeness sake, however, it is to be noted here that other materials may also be used alternatively. In this case, this results in the core 2 having been injection-molded in a single shot together with the fingers 4, and the fingers 4 having been injection-molded onto it, or having been subsequently injection-molded. However, such a method also results in the core 2, the fingers 4 and the wings 5 being a single integral, non-disengageable component at the end.

As can best be seen in a direct comparison of FIGS. 1 and 2, the special feature of this exemplary embodiment is that each of the wings 5 consists of two plate members 6. Preferably, these two plate members 6 are connected to each other on one of their narrow sides, i.e. there, they transition into each other integrally. Together, the two plate members 6 then form a V-shaped wing 5.

As can best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, with FIG. 4 showing a detail from FIGS. 1 and 2, each plate member 6 has two main surfaces H and otherwise only narrow surfaces S. The main surfaces H are characterized in that their free surface area, in each case, is at least 4 times, better at least 6 times, greater than the free surface area of each of the narrow surfaces S.

What is special in each of the plate members 6 is that its two main surfaces H extend in a slanted manner relative to the longitudinal applicator axis L, preferably at an angle α of between 10° and 35°, see FIG. 3.

If the two plate members 6, as in this exemplary embodiment, together form a V-shaped wing 5, they are oriented in opposite directions, so that the one plate member 6 is slanted by an angle α in the positive direction relative to the longitudinal applicator axis and the other plate member 6 is slanted in the opposite direction, i.e. in the negative direction, so to speak, by an angle β, which ideally assumes the same amount as the angle α, see FIG. 3.

It can be seen very well in FIG. 2 that the respective row of V-shaped wings 5, which (seen as a whole) are placed one behind the other parallel to the longitudinal applicator axis L, preferably consists of such V-shaped wings 5 that open alternately towards the one and towards the other circumferential direction.

In this case, the V-shaped wings 5 are preferably placed one behind the other to form a row which, on the whole, extends parallel to the longitudinal applicator axis L. In this case, however, the wings 5 are preferably placed not without an interruption and, generally, not only with a small spacing. Instead, a gap 7 is provided between one V-shaped wing 5 and the next one following in the direction parallel to the longitudinal applicator axis L. The gap 7 ensures that directly adjacent V-shaped wings 5, if they are bent a bit when passing the wiper, do not mutually support each other, which would make them too rigid. Measured in the direction parallel to the longitudinal applicator axis, the width BL of the gaps is preferably ⅓ to ⅔ of the width BV of a V-shaped wing 5. Ideally, BL=0.5*BV; in this respect also see FIG. 4.

It must be remarked that the gaps 7, viewed in the radial direction, do not have to reach completely up to the core 2, even if they may do so in other simplified embodiments. Instead, bases 8 are optionally provided in the form of strips which extend in a slanted manner relative to the longitudinal applicator axis L and which integrally connect the directly adjacent plate members 6, which are separated from each other only by a gap 7, to each other across the gap 7, see FIG. 4. These strips preferably have the same thickness D as the plate members 6. Their extent in the radial direction, however, is smaller by at least the factor 3, better by at least the factor 4, than the extent of the longer one of the two directly adjacent plate members 6 or of both plate members 6.

The bases 8 stabilize the radially inner area of the plate members 6 and therefore serve for constructionally providing the plate members 6 with an accurately adjustable progressive bending characteristic, within which the area of the plate members 6 located further outwards bends more strongly under load, e.g. caused by the wiper, than the area located inwards, which is stabilized by the base 8. Thus, the effect to be achieved according to the invention can be constructionally adjusted or predetermined very accurately.

It is particularly beneficial to position the V-shaped wings 5 in such a way, relative to the fingers 4, as it can be seen in FIG. 3.

Accordingly, the tip 9 of each V-shaped wing 5, viewed in the circumferential direction, ends centrally in the intermediate space between two directly adjacent finger rings that in each case extend circumferentially.

The lateral ends of each V-shaped wing 5 are preferably positioned in exactly the same way—each of the lateral ends of the respective V-shaped wing 5, viewed in the circumferential direction, is located centrally in the intermediate space between two finger rings adjacent to it that in each case extend circumferentially.

In this way, despite the non-negligible width, each row of V-shaped wings 5 takes up no more room in the circumferential direction than a finger row and therefore only constitutes the smallest possible interruption of the covering pattern formed by the finger rows and finger rings.

It was found to be particularly beneficial if, of the finger rings directly adjacent to the V-shaped wings 5, one finger ring is disposed centrally relative to the gap 7 between two adjacent V-shaped wings 5, and if then two finger rings follow (proceeding in the direction parallel to the longitudinal applicator axis L), each of which, viewed in the circumferential direction, is aligned with the radial center line of a plate member 6 that is involved in forming the respective V-shaped wing 5. Proceeding further in the direction of the longitudinal applicator axis L, this pattern consisting of finger rings, V-shaped wing 5 and gap 7 repeats itself.

The proportions that are essential to the invention can be clearly seen in FIG. 3.

Preferably, the maximum finger diameter DE, measured at the root of the finger above a possible fillet or rounded portion with which the finger 4 may transition into the core 2, corresponds to the thickness D of the plates or of the plate members 6. Tolerance-related deviations of +/−15% are admissible. Very generally, it can be said that, in any case, the following relationship should be conformed with in order to achieve the effect intended according to the invention at least partially: 0.8 DE≤D≤2 DE. Particularly preferably, the following applies: 0.9 DE≤D≤1.4 DE. An important aspect for the invention is that the thickness D of the plates or plate members 6 may not be chosen to be so large that the plate members 6 behave like real plates, i.e. in an inherently bending-stiff manner, and are deformed under the influence of the forces arising when passing through the wiper only by the inevitable amount in the range of 1/100 millimeter by which any body that is rigid from a macroscopic standpoint is inevitably deformed when external forces act on it. Within the sense of the invention, the plate members 6 are actually supposed to be deformed by up to 1 mm or possibly 2 mm, but not as strongly as the fingers 4, due to their special geometry and the supporting action they are supposed to bring about.

In order to achieve the effect according to the invention, it is particularly beneficial if the radial extent of the plate members 6 completely or at least substantially (+/−15%) corresponds to the radial extent of the fingers 4. In this respect, reference is made to FIG. 5, where it can be seen that the imaginary enveloping circle enclosing the respective finger ring in the circumferential direction also encloses, with the exception of minimal deviations, the respective plate members 6, precisely because they have the same extent in the radial direction.

For the sake of completeness, it is to be noted that the plate members 6 do not necessarily have to be connected on one of their lateral edges to a V-shaped wing 5. Within the context of other embodiments, which are not shown in any Figures here, it may also be sufficient if the plate members 6 are not connected to each other but are placed in such a way that they abut each other and in this manner form a member that is similar to the previous V-shaped wing 5. In an extreme case, a (small) gap may even be present between the plate members 6 so that plate members 6 are simply provided in a manner placed alternately in a zigzag-shape along a line, even if that is not preferred.

What is essential to the invention is that the covering has at least one row of wings 5 which, on the whole, extends in the direction parallel to the longitudinal applicator axis L, which wings are placed one behind the other so as to form a zigzag pattern. Ideally, two rows of fingers 5 are provided that, on the whole, extend parallel to the longitudinal applicator axis L and, ideally, are located diametrically opposite from each other on the core 2, in the manner shown by FIG. 5.

Due to the plate members 6 preferably being connected with each other so as to form a V-shaped wing 5, the mass storage capacity can be increased significantly once again. It is readily obvious that an exceptionally large volume of mascara can be stored in the area of the folds formed by the V-shaped wings 5 placed one behind the other in a row, unaffected by the wiper. 

1. A mascara applicator, comprising: a core; a covering of fingers integrally connected to the core; and a plurality of wings integrally connected to the core, wherein the wings each consist of at least one plate member, and each plate member has two main surfaces; and otherwise only narrow surfaces, and wherein a free surface area of each of the main surfaces is at least 4 times greater than a free surface area of each of the narrow surfaces, and the main surfaces extend in a slanted manner relative to a longitudinal applicator axis, and the plate members exhibit an increased geometrical moment of inertia both in a circumferential direction as well as in a direction parallel to the longitudinal applicator axis due to their slant, so that the plate members have an increased capacity for resistance against both bending due to a bending moment acting around the longitudinal applicator axis as well as against bending due to a bending moment acting perpendicularly to the longitudinal applicator axis.
 2. The mascara applicator according to claim 1, wherein the mascara applicator has at least two rows of fingers that wholly extend parallel to the longitudinal applicator axis and are located diametrically opposite from each other on the core.
 3. The mascara applicator according to claim 1, wherein a maximum thickness of a plate member perpendicular to its main surfaces is between 0.8 times a maximum finger diameter and 2.5 times the maximum finger diameter.
 4. The mascara applicator according to claim 1, wherein the covering has at least one row of wings which wholly extends in the direction parallel to the longitudinal applicator axis, which wings are placed one behind the other so as to form a zigzag pattern.
 5. The mascara applicator according to claim 1, wherein each wing consists of two plate members that merge into each other along their imaginary end faces and thus form a V-shaped wing.
 6. The mascara applicator according to claim 5, wherein the V-shaped wings placed in a row parallel to the longitudinal applicator axis open alternately towards a first and towards a second circumferential direction.
 7. The mascara applicator according to claim 6, wherein a gap, whose extent in the direction parallel to the longitudinal applicator axis is at least ⅓ of an extent that a V-shaped wing has in the direction parallel to the longitudinal applicator axis, remains free between two V-shaped wings placed directly adjacent within a row.
 8. The mascara applicator according to claim 1, wherein the main surfaces of a plate member do not extend fully parallel relative to each other but are inclined towards each other in a radially outward direction.
 9. The mascara applicator according to claim 5, wherein a tip of a V-shaped wing, viewed in the circumferential direction, is located centrally in an intermediate space between two adjacent finger rings that in each case extend circumferentially.
 10. The mascara applicator according to claim 9, wherein each of the lateral ends of a V-shaped wing, viewed in the circumferential direction, is located centrally in the intermediate space between two finger rings adjacent to it that in each case extend circumferentially.
 11. The mascara applicator according to claim 1, wherein a distance measured in the circumferential direction between two rows of fingers, which are each placed one behind the other in alignment along the longitudinal applicator axis, that accommodate between them a row of V-shaped wings is equal to a distance measured in the circumferential direction between two rows of fingers, which are each placed one behind the other in alignment along the longitudinal applicator axis, that accommodate between them another, identical row of fingers.
 12. The mascara applicator according to claim 1, wherein a radial extent of the plate members substantially corresponds to a radial extent of the surrounding fingers.
 13. The mascara applicator according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of bases are provided in the shape of strips which extend in a slanted manner relative to the longitudinal applicator axis and which integrally connect directly adjacent plate members, which are separated from each other only by a gap, to each other across the gap. 